A study carried out by Sainsburys Bank looking at data for the last 12 months has shown an increase in car insurance cover of 5.8 percent.
Sainsburys Bank has been studying the data since 2005 and this is the first time that the average annual premium has gone over the GBP500 mark, standing currently at GBP514. Commenting on this increased cost a spokesperson explained that premiums take into account both the cost of vehicle repair and personal injury and as these increase so premiums have to go up to cover those costs.
Car insurance premiums are also affected by the number of claims, something Sainsburys Bank would like to see reduce. They are therefore asking drivers to take more care behind the wheel, avoiding dangerous activities in order to have less accidents which will then lead to a reduction in insurance costs.
A new survey carried out by Tesco Finance has come to the conclusion that van drivers are the safest motorists on the UK roads.
The study looked at insurance claims, finding a lower percentage of van insurance claims than any other type of vehicle. Tesco Finance also found that more drivers of vans receive extra training on the roads than other motorists. Perhaps then the traditional view of van drivers is out of date and should be revised. With van insurance claims so low they may well be good drivers and should see lower premiums as a result.
The counter view that Tesco Finance did not mention in their report was that it could just be that van drivers do not always make a claim when they have an accident. If you look at the knocks and scrapes on many vans this could be a real possibility.
Instead of punishments for not going green the government should use incentives instead says Tesco Finance.
Research carried out shows that around 2 million people already drive an eco friendly vehicle but that is dwarfed by the 21 million who would seriously consider such an option if it was made easier to do so. Tesco Finance found that the cost of buying such a vehicle was prohibitive to many.
The Tesco Finance study also found that those aged 55 and over are the most likely to have gone eco friendly, with 8 percent having a green car. This contrasts with the 34 and under age group where those with an ecologically friendly car is just 4 percent. A Tesco representative saw the research as proof that the nation is happy to embrace green transport as long as it is financially possible for them.
